Simbarashe Muparaganda
BUHERA
(Pungwe News-New Ziana) – Engagement between citizens and community leadership
is critical in spurring development in marginalized communities, the Self Help
Development Foundation (SHDF) Executive Director has said.
(Pungwe News-New Ziana) – Engagement between citizens and community leadership
is critical in spurring development in marginalized communities, the Self Help
Development Foundation (SHDF) Executive Director has said.
Wadzanayi
Vere said this while addressing a SHDF Community Engagement meeting which was
held at Maneta Primary School; Ward 32
Chiurwi under Chief Nyashanu on Friday last week.
Vere said this while addressing a SHDF Community Engagement meeting which was
held at Maneta Primary School; Ward 32
Chiurwi under Chief Nyashanu on Friday last week.
SHDF
is currently running some sustainable livelihoods projects in six wards in
Buhera Central, having started operating in 10 wards of Buhera district in 2013.
This was in response to perennial droughts over the years leaving the populace
especially women in a desperate situation.
is currently running some sustainable livelihoods projects in six wards in
Buhera Central, having started operating in 10 wards of Buhera district in 2013.
This was in response to perennial droughts over the years leaving the populace
especially women in a desperate situation.
Buhera
survives largely on subsistence farming but climate change has not spared the
district, with rainfall patterns deteriorating every year and yields becoming
lower.
survives largely on subsistence farming but climate change has not spared the
district, with rainfall patterns deteriorating every year and yields becoming
lower.
Buhera
has a population of 245 878, 90 percent of which is unemployed.
has a population of 245 878, 90 percent of which is unemployed.
To
mitigate the effects of droughts and climate change, SHDF moved and equipped
local villagers with self-reliance skills.
mitigate the effects of droughts and climate change, SHDF moved and equipped
local villagers with self-reliance skills.
Besides
solely depending on farming as a survival strategy, SHDF also trained villagers
to run small enterprises.
solely depending on farming as a survival strategy, SHDF also trained villagers
to run small enterprises.
To
amply the voices of the communities, Vera said SHDF was also running community
engagement platforms in areas they are operating.
amply the voices of the communities, Vera said SHDF was also running community
engagement platforms in areas they are operating.
The
platform brings together political leadership, critical stakeholders and
communities together to engage and share ideas.
platform brings together political leadership, critical stakeholders and
communities together to engage and share ideas.
The
platform also gives leadership and stakeholders operating in the area such as
Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), government ministries, parastatals and the private
sector an opportunity to give feedback to their respective to local
communities.
platform also gives leadership and stakeholders operating in the area such as
Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), government ministries, parastatals and the private
sector an opportunity to give feedback to their respective to local
communities.
Vere
said by improving communication in marginalized communities through engagement
meetings, SHDF was transmitting social and cultural values.
said by improving communication in marginalized communities through engagement
meetings, SHDF was transmitting social and cultural values.
“Community
engagement exercises are very important in developing communities everywhere in
the world. It seeks to bring people together and help advance national
development.
engagement exercises are very important in developing communities everywhere in
the world. It seeks to bring people together and help advance national
development.
“Research
shows that communities that constantly engage with its leadership and stakeholders
develop faster than those in isolation. As SHDF, we have seen it fit to bring
political leadership, stakeholders and communities together to discuss
developmental issues through this platform.
shows that communities that constantly engage with its leadership and stakeholders
develop faster than those in isolation. As SHDF, we have seen it fit to bring
political leadership, stakeholders and communities together to discuss
developmental issues through this platform.
“We
want to push development agenda in our communities. Such platforms ensure that
our elected leaders are held accountable and also ensure they fulfill pledges
they made during elections campaigns,” said Vere.
want to push development agenda in our communities. Such platforms ensure that
our elected leaders are held accountable and also ensure they fulfill pledges
they made during elections campaigns,” said Vere.
She
said the engagement platforms helps local communities to be aware about and
develop a consensus upon important national and international development
issues.
said the engagement platforms helps local communities to be aware about and
develop a consensus upon important national and international development
issues.
“We
want communities to believe that these high offices are accessible and can be
approached. We are trying to dispel myths that these leaders are too far and
not reachable by bring government and leadership to the community so that they
meet and engage.
want communities to believe that these high offices are accessible and can be
approached. We are trying to dispel myths that these leaders are too far and
not reachable by bring government and leadership to the community so that they
meet and engage.
“We
hope they will continue to meet in their own spaces. We want to continue to
challenge women and youths to be confident and speak up and be able to raise
their issues,” she said.
hope they will continue to meet in their own spaces. We want to continue to
challenge women and youths to be confident and speak up and be able to raise
their issues,” she said.
Villagers
raised concerns about a poor road network and lack of electricity, making it
hard to start projects such as bakeries.
raised concerns about a poor road network and lack of electricity, making it
hard to start projects such as bakeries.
They
also pointed at the lack of markets for their produce and poor service delivery
at local authority level.
also pointed at the lack of markets for their produce and poor service delivery
at local authority level.
Buhera
North legislator, Dr Matthew Nyashanu said community engagement meetings were
necessary to stimulate development in rural constituencies.
North legislator, Dr Matthew Nyashanu said community engagement meetings were
necessary to stimulate development in rural constituencies.
He
encouraged locals to channel their energy towards ensuring the income-generating
projects being implemented by government and its development partners succeed.
encouraged locals to channel their energy towards ensuring the income-generating
projects being implemented by government and its development partners succeed.
“I
would like to thank SHDF for coming up with such an initiative which brings us together
as a community to discuss pertinent issues that matters in our daily lives,”
said Nyashanu.
would like to thank SHDF for coming up with such an initiative which brings us together
as a community to discuss pertinent issues that matters in our daily lives,”
said Nyashanu.
He
said government was in the process of reviving the rehabilitation of
Murambinda-Birchough of road which is in a sorry state.
said government was in the process of reviving the rehabilitation of
Murambinda-Birchough of road which is in a sorry state.
“We
are pushing hard so that the road is rehabilitated. We have engaged President ED
Mnangagwa together with Chief Nyashanu over the matter and we got assurance
that the project will be resuscitated.
are pushing hard so that the road is rehabilitated. We have engaged President ED
Mnangagwa together with Chief Nyashanu over the matter and we got assurance
that the project will be resuscitated.
“As
you can see there is progress in terms of rehabilitation and equipment is now
on site,” said the legislator.
you can see there is progress in terms of rehabilitation and equipment is now
on site,” said the legislator.
He also said government was assisting
villagers with food aid to cushion them against drought induced hunger while
waiting for the next farming season.
villagers with food aid to cushion them against drought induced hunger while
waiting for the next farming season.
“We
are happy that affected households are receiving assistance every month from
government and other aid agencies operating in the area,” said Nyashanu.
are happy that affected households are receiving assistance every month from
government and other aid agencies operating in the area,” said Nyashanu.
He
urged communities to embrace the issue of self-sustenance, saying “locals
should wean themselves from donor dependency syndrome.
urged communities to embrace the issue of self-sustenance, saying “locals
should wean themselves from donor dependency syndrome.
“Donor
dependency has taken away creativity from human beings and mostly from Africans.
It has taken away our Ubuntu as people. We need to work hard as leadership to
ensure that people embark on self-sustaining activities,” said the legislator.
dependency has taken away creativity from human beings and mostly from Africans.
It has taken away our Ubuntu as people. We need to work hard as leadership to
ensure that people embark on self-sustaining activities,” said the legislator.
Villagers
interviewed applauded SHDF for coming up with such an initiative, saying it
will help bring them closer to their community leaders.
interviewed applauded SHDF for coming up with such an initiative, saying it
will help bring them closer to their community leaders.
“I
would like to thank SHDF for coming up with such an initiative. This is my
first time to engage with my legislator and I am delighted that he spoke of
critical matters that are affecting our community. We need more interactions of
this nurture as they help to clear air about certain issues,” said Michael
Hanyire, a Ward 19 resident.
would like to thank SHDF for coming up with such an initiative. This is my
first time to engage with my legislator and I am delighted that he spoke of
critical matters that are affecting our community. We need more interactions of
this nurture as they help to clear air about certain issues,” said Michael
Hanyire, a Ward 19 resident.
